Becoming “Alive Inside” With Music

A new documentary entitled “Alive Inside: The Story of Music and Memory” is generating a lot of excitement. The film follows a social-worker named Dan Cohen as he experiments with bringing iPods to a nursing home. Cohen quickly discovers that a person suffering from even the most severe memory loss (including Alzheimer’s disease) can literally “awaken” when given music they have an emotional attachment to. The stunning results are nothing short of miraculous!

In this clip, we meet Henry, an unresponsive elderly man with dementia who has been living in a care facility for the past ten years with. Watching Henry dramatically brought back to life after hearing some of his favorite tunes moves me to tears.

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The film “Alive Inside” is one more powerful witness that music is an intrinsic part of the human soul. Without music, a part of us will die. But, with music, even those who seem hopelessly “lost” can be found!

Listening to Henry, I was reminded of two of my favorite Latter-day scriptures:

“For my soul delighteth in the song of the heart; yea, the song of the righteous is a prayer unto me, and it shall be answered with a blessing upon their heads” (D&C 25:12).

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“That which is of God is light, and he that receiveth light, andcontinueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:4).

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The subjects of this documentary were truly blessed with God’s light by listening to their favorite music. I was impressed with the insights shared in this clip by world-famous neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks.

“Music imprints itself on the brain deeper than any other human experience“

“Music evokes emotion and emotion can bring with it memory“

“[Music] brings back the feeling of life when nothing else can.”

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HOT TIP:This documentary will have its world premiere in New York City this month (April 2012)! Several screening dates are offered between Wed. April 18 – Saturday April 21st. Get Info and tickets at the Rubin Museum website .

I wish I could be there! Hopefully this film will be made available globally in the near future.

In closing, here is a lovely ‘final cut’ movie trailer that you may also enjoy! - MoSop

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